What do you think?
Rate this book
Homespun
“Superb tale-spinning—a beam of light in contemporary Indian fiction.”� Mira Nair, director of The Namesake
“When Nanaji was shown Naneeji’s photograph, he looked at it for a long time. He had said ‘no� so often that it was surprising when he looked up and said ‘yes� just like that. They were married a month later. Nanaji was 17, Naneeji, 15.�
But the photograph had lied. A marriage between the nationalistic Nanaji, deeply committed to Mahatma Gandhi, and Naneeji, equally committed to her wardrobe, could only spell trouble. Spanning three generations, from India’s struggle for independence against British rule, up to the present-day, HomeSpun traces the lasting imprints of war and the search for peace at levels that are both historical and familial. Setting in motion an irreversible chain of events, a cast of unforgettable characters criss-cross and affect one another in unlikely a Bombay movie producer with a love for pakoras; a fighter pilot who never should have been one; a war correspondent who stumbles upon a disquieting truth; and at the heart of the story, a young girl on a fractured quest for family. Painted on a wide canvas with a deft and intimate hand, HomeSpun’s reach is alluringly it is at once historical saga, military intrigue, and a moving, coming-of-age portrayal.
“Intricately plotted, beautifully written, HomeSpun is the story of an Indian family, and of modern India itself. Cinematic in scope and imagery, and with a dark secret at its core that keeps you racing through the pages, it is the brilliant debut of a multiply gifted writer.”—Suketu Mehta, author of Maximum City
“HomeSpun is a warm, sweeping novel full of history, laughter and tears, and generations of characters that dance off the page. Nilita Vachani is a storyteller of the first order.”—Joe Sacco, author of Safe Area Gorazde and Palestine
“When Nanaji was shown Naneeji’s photograph, he looked at it for a long time. He had said ‘no� so often that it was surprising when he looked up and said ‘yes� just like that. They were married a month later. Nanaji was 17, Naneeji, 15.�
But the photograph had lied. A marriage between the nationalistic Nanaji, deeply committed to Mahatma Gandhi, and Naneeji, equally committed to her wardrobe, could only spell trouble. Spanning three generations, from India’s struggle for independence against British rule, up to the present-day, HomeSpun traces the lasting imprints of war and the search for peace at levels that are both historical and familial. Setting in motion an irreversible chain of events, a cast of unforgettable characters criss-cross and affect one another in unlikely a Bombay movie producer with a love for pakoras; a fighter pilot who never should have been one; a war correspondent who stumbles upon a disquieting truth; and at the heart of the story, a young girl on a fractured quest for family. Painted on a wide canvas with a deft and intimate hand, HomeSpun’s reach is alluringly it is at once historical saga, military intrigue, and a moving, coming-of-age portrayal.
“Intricately plotted, beautifully written, HomeSpun is the story of an Indian family, and of modern India itself. Cinematic in scope and imagery, and with a dark secret at its core that keeps you racing through the pages, it is the brilliant debut of a multiply gifted writer.”—Suketu Mehta, author of Maximum City
“HomeSpun is a warm, sweeping novel full of history, laughter and tears, and generations of characters that dance off the page. Nilita Vachani is a storyteller of the first order.”—Joe Sacco, author of Safe Area Gorazde and Palestine
376 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 1, 2009
This was an intriguing and compulsively readable book for me. For the first few chapters, I had a hard time following the different strands of the story of seemingly disparate lives from different parts of India at different time periods. But I found as I gave myself over to the narrative, it revealed itself to me - who the various individuals were and how they would eventually link up. I kept reading because the story was so intriguing and it was a bit like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle in order to get the larger picture of all of these characters, how they intersect with one another and the themes that carry throughout - coming-of-age, the political vs. the personal, the sweep of history and how larger events effect individuals in ways they might never expect, and how easy it is to hold onto past hurts and reject people who are potentially the closest to you. I learned a lot about India's history from its struggle for independence from Britain through the painful and violent partition to the wars between Pakistan and India in the 60s and 70s and the corruption and iron-fisted regime of Indira Gandhi. There's a lot to chew on in this book - characters are well written and the historical aspects are also fascinating. For those unfamiliar with India's history, the historical appendix provides a wealth of information to back up aspects brought up in the story.
August 8, 2019
I picked this up off a library shelf as it looked intriguing. I really enjoyed the insight into an entirely different culture and political conflicts than I've read before. The characters were compelling and their stories intriguing. There were some big plot twists and hard things. Some brief graphic sexuality in a coming of age sense (eg masturbation). I enjoyed thinking about the questions it raised: What makes people compatible in a relationship? Is there any role for government censorship in a war? How does a woman find her place in the world? The relationships were mostly dysfunctional and yet there was beauty and moments of connection as well.
June 29, 2009
Couldn't put it down. I find it interesting that one of things I enjoyed about the novel the most seems to be the most controversial among readers, and I think it's directly attributable to Vachani's background as a filmmaker. The interwoven narratives that reveal slowly over the course of the book the connections between characters and their identities have a very "show, don't tell" quality--it requires some commitment from the reader to follow the novelist where she wants to take you. An excellent history lesson through the eyes of ordinary Indians.
February 22, 2009
This isn't a novel of place so much as family, class, nation, and all the different crazy ways they get mashed together over a generation. The relationships between the people sharing a backyard, a marriage, a room, a war, are described keenly and compassionately. But it's not really description that's at the bottom of this, it's storytelling. Sure, there's craft aplenty, but not the kind of control-freaky stuff that says: Just wait -- something important is happening but I'm not ready to tell you yet. Or there's the other kind that gets all tripped up listening to its beautiful mind. Author Vachani has enough confidence in herself to just tell the story -- or let the story tell itself. And the result a wonderful novel -- the best kind of novel. A novel that takes you someplace new and allows you to discover yourself there.
Don't be daunted by the language, which to me was something of a challenge to get into because of the passages in Hindi, the strange names (for me), and the unidentifiable food items. You won't have to give it more than a dozen pages and the challenge will feel worth it.
Don't be daunted by the language, which to me was something of a challenge to get into because of the passages in Hindi, the strange names (for me), and the unidentifiable food items. You won't have to give it more than a dozen pages and the challenge will feel worth it.
May 1, 2012
actually, i'd like to give this one a 3.5, which perhaps i should round up to a 4. the book took me a little while to get into, partially, i suspect, because it seemed so similar to the last book i'd read (ghosh's shadow lines) - stories of past generations told through the eyes of a child. but as the other storylines began to interweave (the title being very apropos) the similarities seemed to disappear. all at once a story of gandhi, independence, the war with pakistan and complicated family and interpersonal relationships. well written and, as the cover quote says, an impressive debut novel.
September 30, 2009
This adult novel set in India tells the stories of three generations of people. Eventually the stories all intertwine, but it takes awhile. I must admit that the names were confusing to me, mainly because the point-of-view kept changing. I had to think....okay....is this the child actor? or the fighter pilot? or the movie producer? or the girl who purges? I was a little confused, and imagine that a lot of my students would be, too. HOWEVER, it is a great novel to learn more about the Indian culture--both Hindu and Muslim. But I think this one is more for adult women book circles.
January 14, 2009
This extremely well-written shifting voice character study about three generations of an Indian family was too dense and slow-paced for me. I get all the 4 and 5 star reviews, the writing alone is worthy, but I wanted more of a plot and continued to be confused throughout the book as to who was speaking. By the time I figured it out, the author was on to the next character and I had to work it all out again. Too much sweat when all I want is to be entertained:)
August 19, 2009
Interesting look at 3 generations of a family in India. I found I cared more about the history of India than the workings of this family. Each chapter was narrated by a different character during a different time so it took a lot of effort to keep track of who was who and how it all fit together. I like a book that's more straight forward with who is speaking. I guess I'm lazy that way.
June 29, 2009
Engaging story, fun to read. Covers three generations of an Indian family. I learned a lot about Indian culture and the last 100 years of India's history through this narrative, considering I did not know much at all before.
December 1, 2015
a commendable work for a first time novel by Nilita ! Storires of three generation beautifully woven..when it all falls into place ...you will go "oooohhhh this was it?!!" the untold stories behind many headlines that gives you a shock
November 27, 2017
Starts in the time of Ghandi and moves to the next millenium. Took a little while to understand the characters but the story came together nicely after a few chapters.
March 10, 2009
started out a little slow and confusing but then I really got into it. I picked it up at random in the library so I had very little expectations. Overall a very enjoyable read.
June 3, 2009
Reminds us that all was not clear sailing in India from Independence to the economic revolution...
July 31, 2011
The generational shifts were too confusing for me to be completely engaged. Nice moments abound in this novel, however.
December 4, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It keeps you guess about who's really telling the story.
November 4, 2013
Very non-fiction. Absolutely amazing way of story telling
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.